Page 52 of Cop-Off

“You, McBride. I want you.”

That was easy. She already had him. Owned every part. From now, until forever.

***

Two months later

“Mom, do you know where my sneakers are?” Dylan shouted down the stairs.

Cat’s hand came to her chest. Her heart still seized every time she heard that word.Mom. Dylan had only started calling her that a week ago, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to it.

“They’re under your desk!” she yelled just as loudly, waiting patiently to hear Dylan shout “Thanks” after he’d found them.

Big hands wrapped around her stomach from behind. And her heart was back to pumping again. Swivelling in Cody’s hold, her arms curled around his neck.

“Hello, my beautiful wife.” He grinned.

“Hello, my sexy as fuck husband,” she returned, accepting the wet kiss he laid on her lips.

That was something else that was new. She was a married woman now. Two weeks ago, they’d eloped. Exactly one day after Cody had proposed. He promised he was going to ask, and she promised she was going to say yes. And that’s exactly what happened. Neither one of them wanted to wait to make it official, either. Not now they were living together and not when she was more than ready to claim Dylan as her own.

Everyone had been happy for them. Even Libby and Zach who had grumbled at first about them beating them down the aisle. But the person who was happiest, was her.

Finally releasing her, he nuzzled her nose. “I thought we would go check out that house today, take Dylan along, make a day of it?”

“Sounds perfect.” She nuzzled him right back.

Cody wanted to buy land and build a house for her and Dylan, but that seemed pretty crazy. Especially when they both had full-time jobs and a child to raise, so they’d negotiated. They’d buy a fixer upper with some land and put their own touches on it. Make it their own.

“I’ll go get Dylan,” he said, squeezing her butt, giving her that sexy smirk as she pouted.

She wanted him again. Theywerenewlyweds after all.

“Later, kitten, I promise.” Another kiss, only this one was quicker and far less satisfying. Then he was gone, taking the stairs two at a time.

Heading to the kitchen, she decided on one more coffee before they hit the road. For hydration reasons only. Obviously.

Humming to herself, she took her time tinkering with the coffee maker. But her serenity was short lived, interrupted a moment later by the sound of the doorbell ringing. That was odd. They weren’t expecting anyone.

Whoever it was, they were damn persistent. They’d pressed it three more times during the minute it took for Cat to get from the kitchen to the front door.

She was shocked to find Rachel on the other side. Rachel, who was sporting a nasty black eye.

“Jesus Christ, are you okay?” Cat gasped. “What happened?”

“Is Cody in? I-I need to talk to him.” She’d never heard her voice tremble before.

Shit. What the hell is going on?

Cat pulled her through the entrance, clinging to her hand as if that was magically going to fix the bruises on her face. “Of course, honey. Come on in, I’ll go get him.”

Not a second had passed before her front door was seeing more action than her. Only it was rattling this time, followed by a few heavy bangs.

Luckily, the sound had summoned Cody back down the stairs, saving her a trip. He took one look at Rachel and shot Cat a questioning look, to which she shrugged. She was just as much in the dark as he was.

Cody was the one to fling open the door this time, only to find a very pissed off looking Hunter. A hulking mass of pure rage to be exact. Pushing through the entrance without so much as an invitation, he was spinning Rachel around seconds later, wincing as he took in the sight of her.

“Where is he, honeybun? Tell me where that motherfucker is,” Hunter demanded.

---